Baidu-I2R Research Centre (BIRC) Officially Opens in Singapore
Leading global Chinese language Internet search provider Baidu opens its first overseas joint laboratory with I2R to develop language processing technologies.
- (1888PressRelease) July 30, 2012 - Singapore - Baidu-I2R Research Centre (BIRC), a joint laboratory established by the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU), the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, officially opens in Singapore today. BIRC operates as an R&D unit on I2R's premises at Fusionopolis.
A joint-laboratory agreement was signed by Ms. Wang Mengqiu, Vice President of Baidu, and Dr. Tan Geok Leng, Acting Executive Director of I2R earlier this year on 23 February 2012 in Beijing, China. Equipped with the latest computing facilities, BIRC has started operations with a team of established researchers and engineers, working on cutting-edge research on human language technology.
BIRC has charted a research roadmap for Southeast Asian Language Resources, Natural Language Processing, Information Retrieval and Information Extraction, and Speech Information Processing. The collaboration reinforces Baidu's commitment to enhance its products and services in Southeast Asia and its confidence in the quality research that I2R provides. I2R is home to a team of world-renowned researchers and scientists in speech and language technologies.
Southeast Asian Language Technology
Specialising in Southeast Asian languages, BIRC undertook a research project on Vietnamese and Thai Language Resources and Processing. The project has successfully completed its first milestone. These language technologies will extend Baidu's Web services to the Southeast Asian market, and further strengthen Baidu's leading position in Box Computing technology, enabling efficient internet searches.
Speaker Verification Technology
I2R's state-of-the-art Speaker Verification technology was further enhanced by the BIRC team for Baidu's integrated platform for mobile devices. I2R is a technology leader in Speaker Verification as attested by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)* which runs Speaker Recognition Evaluations in the United States. Mobile phone owners using the Baidu Cloud mobile platform can now enjoy secure and personalised mobile services with I2R's Speaker Verification technology.
Baidu Licenses I2R Technology
At the BIRC opening ceremony today, A*STAR's technology transfer arm, Exploit Technologies and Baidu will sign a licensing agreement for Baidu to officially adopt I2R's Vietnamese and Thai Language technology and Speaker Verification technology. The signing marks an important milestone in the collaboration between I2R and Baidu through BIRC. The licensing agreement further aligns BIRC's R&D directions with Baidu's global strategy and internationalisation efforts.
*Ranking information:
http://www.a-star.edu.sg/Media/News/PressReleases/tabid/828/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/547/Default.aspx
"We're delighted to be formally opening the joint facility. We can now further accelerate cooperative efforts already underway. The synergies between Baidu and I2R are clear from the fruits already borne out by our cooperation," said Ms. Wang Mengqiu, Baidu's Vice President. "I2R is an excellent partner that can help fulfill our mission of providing the best and most equitable way for people to find what they are looking for online," she said.
The signing of the joint laboratory agreement in February this year has laid a strong foundation for Baidu to enhance its internet services. I2R's expertise in speech and language technologies, combined with Baidu's deep knowledge of the market needs is a winning formula. Baidu internet users can look forward to more innovative technologies from BIRC in the near future. We encourage global companies like Baidu to work in synergistic partnership with I2R. This enables them to leverage on our talented researchers' spectrum of relevant capabilities and competency to introduce cutting-edge and value-added technologies to the industry," said Dr Tan Geok Leng, Acting Executive Director of IČR.
BIRC will continue to develop new natural language technologies that will further enhance the capabilities of Baidu's Box Computing and Baidu Cloud mobile platform.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Doris Yang
Institute for Infocomm Research
DID: (65) 6419 6529
Email: yangscd ( @ ) scei dot a-star dot edu dot sg
Mr. Kaiser Kuo
Director, International Communications
DID: (86-10) 5992-8419
Email: kaiser.kuo ( @ ) baidu dot com
About Baidu
Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. As a technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best and most equitable way for people to find what they're looking for online. In addition to serving individual Internet search users, Baidu provides an effective platform for businesses to reach potential customers. Baidu's ADSs currently trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU". Each of Baidu's Class A ordinary shares is represented by 10 ADSs.
About Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R)
The Institute for Infocomm Research (IČR pronounced as i-squared-r) is a member of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) family. Established in 2002, our mission is to be the globally preferred source of innovations in 'Interactive Secured Information, Content and Services Anytime Anywhere' through research by passionate people dedicated to Singapore's economic success. IČR performs R&D in information, communications and media (ICM) technologies to develop holistic solutions across the ICM value chain. Our research capabilities are in information technology, wireless and optical communication networks, interactive and digital media, signal processing and computing. We seek to be the infocomm and media value creator that keeps Singapore ahead. For more information about I2R, please visit www.i2r.a-star.edu.sg.
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the lead agency for fostering world-class scientific research and talent for a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation-driven Singapore. A*STAR oversees 14 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research institutes, and six consortia & centres, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis as well as their immediate vicinity. A*STAR supports Singapore's key economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry. It also supports extramural research in the universities, and with other local and international partners. For more information about A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.
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